06 September 42 - 11 September 42 Executive Summary
The CBI is still back and forth in northern Burma. The air operations to support C-3PO are going well, and we are working to move the needed lift to support the next phase of landings. Given what he had in place and where we are going to launch Operation Colon Blow and then Super Colon Blow as I simply don't have enough of the "Ok Stuff" life to do both at once. I want the keep the "Good Suff" far away this area and ready for Operation Cookie-Crisp.
As there is a with the US Tank Destroy production and we have deployed most of the to India we are shipping the one that arrived at Peal Harbor to San Fransisco so we can disband it and return the M10 Wolverines to the Pool as replacements. There was some sort of point on it, I think the issue is the M10 should have a start date of 42/06 and not 43/06.
He tries a landing at the Coco Islands and wipes out given the forces that were deployed there a couple of months back, more details in a separate post. Not much else going on other than moving troops and supply forward.
Raiding
Sub attack near Fukue-jima xAKL P-136, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage vs SS Growler
ASW attack near Yasawa Islands SS I-153, hits 5 vs APD Stewart
Sub attack near Anatom SS I-154 AMc Olive Cam, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
(later sinks)
I have been using the AMc with 1,2 & 4 ASW around New Caledonia to help escort damaged ships and to run missions over the location of submarines. We have taken some losses on them but this has prevented him from getting any shots on the convoys running in the area. I should have ten SC that will make port in the next two turns and then we can start hunting in earnest.
Allied Naval Forces
Fleet of Doom: At Pearl Harbor getting its minor dings sorted out. USN CAR DIV 1 (Wasp + Illustrious), USN CAR DIV 2 (Lexington), CAR DIV 3 (Saratoga), CAR DIV 4 (Yorktown), CAR DIV 5 (Hornet), CAR DIV 5 (Enterprise) and Force Z (Repulse, South Dakota, Washington & North Carolina).
The USN 1st Bat Div (Pennsylvania, Idaho, New Mexico, Mississippi, Warspite, Colorado, 2 CA & 7 DD): This force in at Noumea.
Force X (Revenge, Royal Sovereign, Ramillies, Valiant): This force is at Diamond Harbor to cover my sea flank.
Mini-Doom: Two separate taffys exist. CVE Force- Long Island + CVE Copahee (speed 16) in one. The second one contains the CVL Hermes (speed 25). Both of these are at Noumea.
KB and Mini-KB
Assumed to be repairing and upgrading at Rabaul/Truk. The AM63a Zero arrived this month so I assume this will be making its way onto his remaining carriers.
China
He has continued to bombard from the ground and air at Wenchow to work to burn off my supplies and damage the airfield, supplies stand at 2.5K (rising). We also have 32K troops in the max stacking of 40K, Forts 3(9)-70%. Two Chines Fighter ACU's showed up exchanged aircraft at rate of 2:1 in out favor and then ran away.
His army is also prepping for a 42/43 offensive once Wenchow falls. Moving units to hold the areas he is prepping to attack and protect against any Flanking maneuvers. Targets he is prepping for are: Sian, Wuchow, Changsha and Chenchow.
CBI
Will Post is a separate post below later when I have time. Its a game of back with armor in the open plans. I don't think he can throw me out of Mandalay for a while unless he brings in two fresh infantry divisions as long as my supplies hold out.
The SWPAC
At Kirakira we have "most of" the 2nd USMC Parachute BN, 2/7 Commando Bn and some of the 1st Marine Raider Bn with the rest of the LCUs slowly arriving via SST. This base will play my Cactus Air-force [:D], port damge is down to 59 from a high of 79.
At Ndeni the Port is level 2(1)-44%, Airfield 3(5)-49% and Fort 0. At the airfield we have one F4F-3P ACU, one F2A-2 Buffalo ACU, one F4F-3A Wildcat ACU and two P-30D ACUs. There are 12 PT Boats protecting the base.
At Vanikoro is a Port level 2(0)-57%, the Airfield 6(4)-50% and the Fort 3, 14 PT Boats, one ACM, 150 mines and one AGP. At the airfield there are two A-24 ACUs, three C-47 Skytrain ACUs, three RD-41 Skytrain ACUs and one SBC4-Helldiver. Additional Marine Fighter and Dive Bomber ACUs are ready to rotate in or base here as the airfield expands.
Luganville is safe with Port 5(3)-54%, Airfield 8(5) and Fort 3(9). There is one ACM, 12 PT Boats and 148 mines. The island has 284 Aviation Support and one Air HQ. four B-17E ACUs, one B-17F ACU, one P-39D ACU, one SB2U-3 Vindicator ACU, one P-38F ACU and one P-38E ACU.
Koumac is a Port 4(1), Airfield 8(7)-22% and Fort 2(9). I have one B-17D ACU, one B-24D ACU and one LB-30 ACU based here.
All of the bombers are now resting and waiting for the next operation. I suspect we will need to suppress the airfield at Tulagi for Operation Colon Blow.
Operation Mr. T
The retaking of the Ellice Islands is now complete.
Operation Cookie-Crisp
The landing at Tabiteuea and Tarawa. Forces will stage from Pearl Harbor will take these islands. AI am now looking at this operation in the next 30 days or possibly sooner - we will start with Tabiteuea and then move on Tarraw after I have time to regroup.
For Tabiteuea the 27th Infantry Division (100), the 181st FA Bn (100), 763rd Tank Bn (100), 145 FA Bn (100), 34th Cmbt Eng Rgt (82), 151st Cmbt Engr Bn (10), 3rd Marine Div (41), 3rd Pion Bn (35) and the I US Corps (29) are all prepping. All of these are at Pearl Harbor.
For Tarawa the 24th Infantry Division (100, 2/3 Restricted, requires 1290 PPs), 134th Combat Engr Bn (92) and the 198th FA Bn (100) - all at Pearl Harbor. At Christmas Island we have the 110th Cmbt Engr Bn (86), 223rd FA Bn (87), 40th Infantry Div (84) and the 762nd Tank Bn (77) all prepping.
Once we move on Tabiteuea, we will need all of the major naval forces - the key will be bombardment for the BBs to soften up the target right before we land.
Baker Island will have AKEs and 75 Fighters at as a fall back potion and a place to rest and repairs. Vaitupu is closed (11 hexes vs 13 for Baker) but Baker Island has 40 Aviation support that will grow into 72. The Island will be overstated wit 7k on a 6K island. The 147th(Sep) Inf Rgt, 804th Aviation Engr Bn and the 318th Base Group.
Operation C-3PO's, Horn Island
At this point we are just planing the land portion and as of the 8th of September we have unleashed the Dutch and Australian Bomber force on the Island. The goal here as always is to: 1) Exchange the poor early war airframes for some gain before them become useless 2) Burn his Supply 3) Stretch his air units 4) Close the Pilot Gap. So far the exchange rate from all types of losses are a little worse than 1:1 for me.
Horn Island: Recon shows Port 1(1), Airfield 3(3), two enemy units, Troops:18540, Guns:121, AFVs:34, Fighters:8 and airfield damage at 47.
Coen: Airfield2(6)-51% with 66 Aviation Support. There is one O-47A ACU and two Kittyhawk IA ACUs at the base. The Kittyhawk's are sweeping Horn Island. I have some additional aviation support in route. As I can support one Wirraway ACU it will also soon relocate here to add to the bombing. As additional support arrives and the airfield expands we may also add more Wirraway ACUs.
Cooktown: Port 1(2), Airfield 6(6)-56% with 236 Aviation Support. The 14th MAG is based here to provide an Air HQ. One Catlina I ACU, one B-25C Mitchell ACU, two Beaufighter Ic ACUs, four Hudson I ACUs are based out of the hex. All of the bombers are set to bomb the airfield at Horn Island and the fighters are set to escort.
Land Units: The following units are based in Townsville and are prepping for Horn Island. 2nd Australian Div (100), 5th Australian Div (100), 12th Field Rgt (100). I need to find one more ART and one ARM unit to add to this mix. I will also look at finding a US Infantry Div to add as well just in case he adds additional troops. This will bring me near the 40K stacking limit for the hex, recon only shows 10K of troops on the island.
Operation Colon Blow, Lunga
This operation was planned to occur simultaneously with Operation Super Colon Blow the landing at Tulagi but will not occur before Super Colon Blow due to the shortage of lift.
Lunga: Recon shows Port 0(1), Airfield 0(5), four enemy units, Troops:5840, Guns:57, AFVs:11.
Landing Forces Prepping: 1st Marine Raider BN (59) moving to Kirakira. 3rd Marine Raider BN (65) at Vanikoro. 1st USMC Parachute BN (25) at Suva. 3rd USMC Parachute BN (25) at Ndeni. 41st Infantry Div (25), Q Alexandra's (Mtd) Rgt (25), 21/22 Field Rgt (25), Rabaul Base Force (25) at La Foa.
Operation Super Colon Blow, Objective Tulagi
This operation will occur after Colon Blow.
Landing Forces Prepping: I Australian Corps (100), 2nd Marine Div (100), 2nd USMC Tank Bn (100), 2nd USMC FA BN (100), 1st USMC AA BN (100), 2nd AmphTrac Engr Bn (100), 2nd Pion BN (100), 15th Base Group(100) and then 102 Cmbt Engr Rgt (100) at Luganville. 1st Marine Div (64), 1st USMC Tank Bn (69) and the 1st Pion Bn (68), are at Ndeni. 1st AmphTrac Engr Bn (78), 22nd Marine Rgt (100) and the 1st USMC FA Bn (37) are in route to Ndeni. The 1st Australian Div (100) is at Townsville.
Japanese Amphibious Landings:
Amphibious Assault at Christmas Island IO (45,104)
Amphibious Assault at Cocos Islands (33,101)
Japan Conquerors the Following Bases:
Bandjermasin
Madjene
Tanahdjampea
Christmas Island IO
Kalao
Allies Amphibious Landings:
None.
Allies Conquerors the Following Bases:
None.
